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You are here: Home / Travel / Mary Arden’s Farm, the Tudor Kitchen and the Art of Chocolate.

Mary Arden’s Farm, the Tudor Kitchen and the Art of Chocolate.

July 25, 2018 by Fiona Maclean 21 Comments

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Last Updated on April 20, 2019

The Tudor Kitchen at Mary Arden’s Farm and some Twenty-First Century Chocolate Making in Shakespeare’s England:

Quintessentially English countryside and villages around Stratford-upon-Avon seems, in my fanciful eyes, remarkably unchanged since Tudor times.  The narrow lanes lined with hedges, timber-framed houses, castles and manor houses in themselves are enough to take any visitor a step back history.  A few miles out of Stratford-upon-Avon, though,  in the village of Wilmcote, you can go one stage further and visit Mary Arden’s Farm – a working Tudor farm where you’ll be immersed in life as it was.

Mary Ardens Farm - Palmers Farm - Mary Arden House

For those who are not aware, Mary Arden married to become Mary Shakespeare and gave birth to that rather famous playwright who is responsible for bringing so many visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon.  Glebe Farm where she grew up, now called Mary Arden’s Farm and neighbouring Palmer’s Farm are both Grade I listed buildings and open to the public.

Mary Ardens Farm - Mary Arden House

In fact, the larger building in the complex that was once believed to be Mary Shakespeare’s family farm is actually Palmer’s farm – home of Adam Palmer who was a friend and neighbour of the Arden family.  Mary Arden’s house, the nearby Glebe Farm is a more modest building which has lost some of its original timber framing but still dates back to 1514.  The whole complex makes up a fascinating space where you will find yourself totally immersed in Tudor life.  We learnt how to spin, we watched how to start a fire with a flintstone and steel and we discovered a wealth of information about the laborious way of life on a working Tudor farm.

Mary Ardens Farm Making Fire

I was particularly intrigued by the Tudor kitchen, where we watched the cook making gingerbread from honey, breadcrumbs, pepper and crystalised fruit.

Mary Ardens Farm Making GingerBread

Our current fashion for edible flowers was one which the Tudors shared – and we watched as a pretty bowlful of fresh salad was made, without tomatoes and peppers of course, but with some of the more interesting flowers you might find in your garden – marigolds, lavender and borage for example.

Tudor style Salad at Mary Ardens Farm

Outside in the fields, the geese were being exercised – an unruly rabble who seemed determined to escape if at all possible.

Mary Ardens Farm - Geese 2

And there was a short display of falconry with an owl

Man and Owl - Mary Ardens Farm

It was the kind of place where, rather unexpectedly, I’d have been happy to stay for a lot longer.  There are activities for all ages and somehow the working farm maintains a feeling of authenticity.  The staff, apparently, do all sit down each day and eat the food which is cooked in the kitchen using Tudor ingredients and methods.  And, much of the food they eat is produced on the farm.

Man and Owl - Mary Ardens Farm

Mary Arden’s House and Farm is one of five properties run by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – the others comprise Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s New Place and Hall’s Croft.  Some, like Shakespeare’s Birthplace, are in Stratford-upon-Avon, others tucked away in the countryside. You’ll find a lot more about the properties on their website.

Mary Ardens Farm Bread Oven

I’m now in possession of a new cookery book – ‘The Tudor Kitchen’ – so I’ll be trying out some more of the recipes soon.  In the meanwhile, here’s how to make that gingerbread.

5 from 2 votes
Mary Ardens Farm Making GingerBread
Print
Tudor Gingerbread
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Tudor Gingerbread was a popular way to use up stale bread.  It needs no cooking and is simple to make.  Recipe from Mary Arden's Farm in Stratford

Course: Cake
Cuisine: British
Keyword: gingerbread, no cooking, shakespeare, tudor, tudor recipe
Servings: 4
Calories: 540 kcal
Author: Mary Arden's Farm
Ingredients
  • 300 g clear honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 14 slices stale bread with the crusts removed and made into crumbs
  • Crystallised ginger or dried fruit
Instructions
  1. Gently warm the honey in a saucepan with the pepper and ginger until it is free-flowing. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
  2. Place half the breadcrumbs in a large bowl, pour over the honey mixture and fold in
  3. Keep adding handfuls of breadcrumbs until the mixture will not absorb any more
  4. Press firmly into a 20cm loose bottom cake tin and leave covered for 24 hours at room temperature to set. Our cook advised us to weight the tin for a better consistency
  5. Turn out and cut into slices. Serve with some crystallised ginger or dried fruit.

Now, although chocolate was discovered in around 600AD, it wasn’t something that would have been in any Tudor household as it didn’t reach Europe until after the discovery of America.  Even if Shakespeare didn’t get to taste it, if you find yourself in or around Stratford-upon-Avon, you might just want to take a trip to the Yew Tree Farm Craft Centre at Wootton Wawen where you’ll find Henley Chocolates.  The founder and owner, Sally, from Henley in Arden, was a solicitor until she realised her passion for chocolate making through this artisan venture.

Henley Chocolates Team

What I particularly loved about Henley Chocolates was the chance to make my own!  Of course, I’ve made truffles at home – but I’ve never really experimented with the flavours, nor have I tried making those beautiful chocolate shells that you see on ‘proper’ chocolates.  They turned out beautifully – and fooled those of my friends who I treated with a sample!

Chocolate Shells at Henley Chocolates

Sally and her team not only sell a range of delicious truffles and chocolates, they also run workshops where you can learn how to make your own truffles and leave with a box of deliciously wicked chocolates – laced with rum, local gin or whatever takes your fancy and various fruit flavours.

Henley Chocolates - Truffles

I made rum and orange milk chocolates with a white ganache filling and rhubarb gin (using local artisan gin from the Shakespeare distillery) and ginger dark chocolates with a dark ganache filling.

Henley Chocolates - mine

There are a range of workshops including chocolate making for kids and Sally can cater to private groups.  A perfect treat for a hen party perhaps?  Definitely worth looking into if you are visiting Stratford-upon-Avon.

Henley Chocolates - Shop

 

So, which will you do?  Take a step back in history at Mary Arden’s Farm – visit the house where Shakespeare’s mother grew up and learn about how the Tudors lived and worked.  Or, indulge in a luxurious chocolate making experience with Henley Chocolates – and come away with a box of your own homemade truffles.  I’d find it impossible to pick – so if you are planning a short break to Stratford-upon-Avon I suggest you make sure you have the time to do both.

Mary Arden's Farm Palmers Farm - Mary Arden's House

In addition to the fascinating craft food offerings, I also visited and learnt about a host of artisan drinks producers based around Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire and learnt about a new opening planned for Spring 2019 – The Farm, which will showcase more artisan food producers and local brands.  I’ll be writing more about the beer, whisky and gin producers of Shakespeare’s England in my next feature

Thinking of visiting? Why not pin this post for later – there are two pins – just in case you can’t decide if you are more interested in the Tudors or in Chocolate

Mary Arden's Farm - Shakespeare's Mother - Stratford upon Avon

 

Henley Chocolates Stratford upon Avon - Chocolate Making Workshop

 

Thank you to Shakespeare’s England for arranging such a fantastic trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding countryside– for more information check out their website

I was a guest of Shakespeare’s England

I stayed at Hotel du Vin Stratford upon Avon

I travelled with Chiltern Railways from Marylebone Station

 

 

 

Filed Under: Travel, UK Tagged With: Artisan, chocolate, Heritage, History, Shakespeare, Stratford

About Fiona Maclean

London based freelance writer and marketing consultant. I edit London-Unattached.com and write for a number of other publications. With a music degree and a background in marketing across many sectors, my passions include all types of music, food, restaurants, wine and travel

Comments

  1. Kathleen marsden says

    January 27, 2019 at 12:28 pm

    We live quite close to Stratford and have bought the multi ticket to see all the properties there but unfortunately Mary Arden’s Far was the one we haven’t seen as we only go for the day and ran out of time. I’ll have to make the effort to go again and visit as it is such an interesting and beautiful part of our country

    Reply
  2. Jeanette Leighton says

    September 13, 2018 at 10:50 am

    So interesting to see how the Tudors lived and cooked I’ve always had an interest especially in Henry VIII

    Reply
  3. Elinor Fisher says

    August 20, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    I’ve been on one chocolate-making workshop and loved it so would love to combine a trip to Stratford with this chocolate making workshop and will definitely add it to my “places to visit soon” list!

    Reply
  4. Snigdha (Snig of Snig's Kitchen) says

    August 7, 2018 at 2:19 pm

    Hello Fiona,

    Stratford is such a pretty place. I love the history, the riverside, the theatre. I discovered Mary Arden’s Farm last year. Thought it was such a great place for families to visit.

    Thanks for this brilliant blog post – travel inspiration for people having a Staycation!

    with very best wishes
    Snigdha

    Reply
  5. Jessie says

    August 4, 2018 at 2:40 pm

    Wonderful post! Very informative. As a choc-o-holic, I’ll definitely need to keep this in mind for our trip to the U.K. this October.

    Reply
  6. Kirstie Saldo says

    August 1, 2018 at 6:22 pm

    I love everything about this post! I especially love how this somehow is supporting local farmers! I remember watching something similar on TV and it is so heartwarming. I wish we had something like this in my country, sadly, majority is into commercial farming.

    Reply
  7. Indrani says

    August 1, 2018 at 3:53 am

    I am drooling over this post. So good to get a book on local delicacies. You are sure to have a good time trying out the recipes.

    Reply
  8. Janine Thomas says

    July 31, 2018 at 3:32 pm

    Yum! The chocolates you made sound divine. have a truffle making class with Lindt coming up soon which should be fun. I love gingerbread so I am definitely going to try the recipe as well.. Fabulous post!

    Reply
  9. Catherine Salvador Mendoza says

    July 31, 2018 at 8:29 am

    Recently, I love watching Netflix and your post seems quite similar to some of the ones that I’ve watched. It’s beautiful, simple and what I couldn’t help but notice is the attire/ clothes that they are wearing here at Mary Arden’s House and Farm, truly represents a countryside vibe. It’s a beautiful place to see and visit and learn about the history of chocolates. The chocolates are gorgeous and I could absolutely take home some delicious home made truffles!

    Reply
  10. Layla says

    July 31, 2018 at 4:09 am

    What a lovely trip that must of been! The owl would be my dream to see and hold in person. The chocolates and edible flowers looking so yummy! I am glad you shared this wonderful experience!

    Reply
  11. Sofia says

    July 29, 2018 at 3:26 pm

    Wow, love travel experiences like this! I had no idea who Mary Arden was! I’ve also never visited this neck of the woods but it’s totally on my bucket list. There’s something about the photo of that fresh salad that looks so tempting. Great photos – thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  12. Linda says

    July 29, 2018 at 2:09 pm

    How interesting to visit a place with such a Tudor history. Great to get a glimpse into life from long ago. Even though chocolate is not a real local historical thing, we would want to visit the chocolate shop. It would be fun to make truffles to take home.

    Reply
  13. Mel and Marcus says

    July 28, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    We visited Stratford-Upon-Avon a few months ago, and recently went back again. We visited the house Shakespeare was born in, it’s really interesting and the actors there are brilliant at making history come to life. Wilmcote wasn’t on my radar then, so thanks for this post, it’s somewhere I would like to go to, the Tudor kitchen looks particularly fascinating

    Reply
  14. Annemarie says

    July 28, 2018 at 1:17 pm

    I’ve been to Stratford couple of times but never made it to Mary Arden’s farm house. It’s still on my list and it looks like you can spend a while there. I’d love to have a spin at learning spinning. lol

    Reply
  15. Image Earth Travel says

    July 26, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    How gorgeous! Love making special handmade chocolates.

    Reply
  16. Fiona Maclean says

    July 26, 2018 at 9:37 am

    I am pretty sure you can buy a ticket that includes all 5 of the properties. This one is lovely – there’s a whole itinerary of activities that you can take part in:)

    Reply
  17. Cinzia Albanese says

    July 26, 2018 at 9:15 am

    wooooo I bet the rum and orange ones were good! Lovely post! I would definitely experience the Mary Arden’s Farm if I’m around the area at any point, might make my husband try and make the gingerbread, at least he might learn to cook something haha

    Reply
    • Fiona Maclean says

      July 26, 2018 at 9:35 am

      The rum and orange ones were yummy! But actually I liked both – then I did choose the flavours!

      Reply
  18. Fancy says

    July 26, 2018 at 8:47 am

    Looks like a wonderful trip. I had 2 hours in Stratford upon Avon once- really not enough.

    Reply
    • Fiona Maclean says

      July 26, 2018 at 9:37 am

      definitely not enough – but I have done that in so many places too!

      Reply
  19. Claire Ady says

    July 26, 2018 at 8:46 am

    we live quite close to Stratford but I didn’t know either of these things were there. we’re been to the NT property there recently and we’ve been to the butterfly farm a couple of times. oh, and I ran the Stratford half marathon this year! it was a very beautiful route! it’s a lovely town.

    Reply

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